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GENERAL (Details) (USD $)
6 Months Ended 0 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended
Apr. 26, 2015
Mar. 16, 2015
Apr. 26, 2015
Apr. 27, 2014
Apr. 27, 2014
Supplemental Cash Flow Information          
Cash amount of ownership interest purchased $ 11,702,000us-gaap_PaymentsToMinorityShareholders        
Reduction in additional paid-in capital 14,035,000us-gaap_MinorityInterestDecreaseFromRedemptions        
Guarantees          
Guarantee term The Company's guarantees either terminate in one year or remain in place until such time as the Company revokes the agreement        
Revocable standby letters of credit          
Guarantees          
Standby letters of credit 3,500,000us-gaap_LettersOfCreditOutstandingAmount
/ us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxis
= us-gaap_FinancialStandbyLetterOfCreditMember
  3,500,000us-gaap_LettersOfCreditOutstandingAmount
/ us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxis
= us-gaap_FinancialStandbyLetterOfCreditMember
   
Shanghai Hormel Foods Corporation          
Supplemental Cash Flow Information          
Percent of ownership interest purchased   19.29%hrl_AdditionalOwnershipInterestPurchasedByParentFromNoncontrollingShareholder
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_MajorityOwnedSubsidiaryUnconsolidatedMember
     
Ownership percentage   100.00%us-gaap_SubsidiaryOrEquityMethodInvesteeCumulativePercentageOwnershipAfterAllTransactions
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_MajorityOwnedSubsidiaryUnconsolidatedMember
     
Cash amount of ownership interest purchased   11,700,000us-gaap_PaymentsToMinorityShareholders
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_MajorityOwnedSubsidiaryUnconsolidatedMember
     
Reduction in additional paid-in capital   11,900,000us-gaap_MinorityInterestDecreaseFromRedemptions
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_MajorityOwnedSubsidiaryUnconsolidatedMember
     
Rabbi trust          
Investments          
Gains related to securities held $ 3,000,000us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestments
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_TrustForBenefitOfEmployeesMember
  $ 1,500,000us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestments
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_TrustForBenefitOfEmployeesMember
$ 900,000us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestments
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_TrustForBenefitOfEmployeesMember
$ 1,400,000us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestments
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_TrustForBenefitOfEmployeesMember